AddThis SmartLayers

‘Match of the day’ reunites newspaper family dynasty

A regional daily’s old sporting stars are planning a get together which is set to reunite a newspaper family dynasty.

Brothers John, Mick and Tony Holland will join former reporters and compositors from the Nottingham Evening Post for the reunion next week.

The trio were part of a successful football side from ‘all our yesterdays’  known as the Forman Street Slashers – a nodding tribute to the old city headquarters of the Post which was owned by T Bailey Forman from 1878 until Northcliffe Newspapers’ takeover in 1994.

Reunion organiser Craig Morrison is anxious to track down all the players on this photo and more old team-mates besides, particularly goalkeeper Dennis Statham.

“We loved our Sunday football games from those bygone days and it would be great to get as many people there as possible for the reunion,” said Craig.


The Hollands are a famous newspaper family stretching back more than half a century.

John, who’s coming over from Cyprus where he now lives for the lunchtime get-together, is thought to be the first and only person to be editor of both the Birmingham Post and the Evening Mail at the same time.

He was also editor of the Sandwell Evening Mail and, after a spell as promotions director with the former top-selling West Midlands regional newspaper titles, went on to become managing director of the Herts and Essex group of paid-for weeklies.

Brother Mick was an ex-sports editor of the Nottingham Evening Post while Tony became a well-known Derbyshire newspaper and magazine print boss.

The Slashers line-up, from left to right, are back row: Bill Shipston, John Holland, Dave Horne, Eric Parrott, Colin Jeal, Dave Smith. Front row is Dave Lowe, Malcolm Perkins, Tony Holland, Craig Morrison, Dave Stapleton.

The Sir John Borlase Warren hostelry in Stapleford will be the setting for the reunion on Wednesday, 10 September at 1pm. For more details, contact Craig on 0115 939 4271.

One comment

You can follow all replies to this entry through the comments feed.
  • September 1, 2014 at 11:28 am
    Permalink

    I used to turn out for the works team in the morning and had occasional games for The Slashers in the afternoon. Great times and the Hollands were always great lads – Mick has also done more than most to help bring ice hockey back to the fore in Nottingham.

    Report this comment

    Like this comment(0)